Helena was taken to a healer. She was an older woman who did not share a common language with Helena. She ran her hands over Helena's skin and the warmth that came from the aged hands took the aches from her muscles. Once the healer was done she was taken to a wagon and stripped of her dress. The shame of standing nude while people walked by brought a blush to her face that had made Elaine chuckle.
"Do not feel so ashamed Helena," the woman had said, "Nudity is common among us and you will see more then your share of it."
This was not a comforting thought, even as she was lead into a wagon out of sight where she was laid on her stomach on a bed and the Queen used oils to massage her sore muscles. Helena wanted so much to pull away from her hands but she couldn't help but sink into the bed. She was just starting to fall into sleep when the door to the wagon opened and the woman that followed the queen around stuck her head in.
"The King is ready to see her," she said.
The Queen stopped the massage and stood. The two of them together dressed the half awake Prophet and then lead her with the giant of a man as a guard towards a large tint light by fires inside and out.
By the time they reached the tent Helena was fully aware of everything around her. There were small tents of various sizes all through the woods with fires burning in the center of each group. Men sat around the fires and walked between the small groupings. There was the sound of drums off in the distance and a man nearby started to sing a tune that had the others laughing and hollering. Helena had no idea what the man said but from the nature of the sounds his companions made, it was most likely lewd.
At one point she was shocked to see a small man with pants of a translucent material around his knees pressed with his chest against a tree. His eyes were closed in bliss as another man, partially clothed in the leather armor of the other warriors grunted and slammed into him. She turned away in shock and embarrassment.
"Does such a sight bother you Helena," the Queen asked, her amusement at Helena's embarrassment showed plain in her eyes.
Helena nodded and kept her eyes on the ground as they passed the two, "Men lay with men here?"
Elaine laughed and nodded, "And woman with woman." She motioned to the tents spread out through the forest, "We have traveled many moons to get here and still have farther to go. The men get restless and require an outlet to their frustration. It is normally not done as openly as what you saw there but it is not uncommon for people to show affection in our society. The newest trends of clothing are even see through so one can share the beauty of their body with those they meet."
Helena almost glanced back and stopped herself, "Like that man's breeches?"
Elaine shook her head, "No. That man was wearing the material reserved for pleasure slaves. It is more of a mesh material and softer to the touch. They are not allowed to wear anything else until they have earned their freedom or taken a different station."
Helena tried to take this all in stride but her mind was reeling. No one seemed at all concerned that she had been taken against her will. Was it so common place for these things to happen among the people of Balek? Was the man back there against the tree like her, someone that had been taken against their will?
By the time they reached the large tent with its guards she was filled with a resolve to not let this place and its people overwhelm her. That resolve faltered as she was lead into the tent.
The tent was large and shaped like three individual long tents attached in the center like a three sided star with high ceilings and a raised hole in the center for smoke to escape from. Near the fire was a long wooden table and the two section of the tent that split off were dark and separated by a flap with a cut down the middle for one to pass through. Standing over the table was the King, no longer in his golden armor. Instead he wore black breeches and no shirt. His long hair was unbraided and combed out so it lay smooth against his back. Other men stood around him and they spoke in hushed voices, but heated tons.
Looking up the King suddenly smiled and motioned to the men around him, "Leave us. All of you."
The men left though they seemed unhappy about it as they moved away from the table and towards the flap. They all walked past Helena with a long glance at her. One of the men with dark black hair cut very short to his head nearly snarled at her. He had been the one speaking when they were interrupted.
Helena backed away as they passed and fought to not cower before them. She could not appear weak and broken and she knew this. Once they were all gone she looked back to the King who moved towards them.
"Does that include me brother," Elaine asked with a smile.
Draven chuckled and took his sisters hands, "Yes. I am sorry and thank you for tending to her but something has come up and I need her talents sooner then I had suspected."
Helena gasped and took an involuntary step back. When the words came spewing from her mouth she just could not seem to stop them, "Please no. I beg you. Don't cut me."
The three of them in the tent all turned to look at her curiously. Elaine gave her brothers hands a quick squeeze and lead her student out of the tent without a word. Helena stood helpless and wanted to follow her but she was too terrified to move.
"Why do you think I am going to cut you Prophet?" His voice was curious and his eyes thoughtful. Something about the way he acted seemed pleased at her fear and what she had said.
"Because you cut me in my visions," she answered honestly, her arms holding herself as though cold as he took a step towards her.
"Do I cut you in all of your visions," he asked. He stopped advancing on her a few steps back and she felt relief that he would not press her yet.
